Polygonal

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /pəˈlɪɡənəl/

Definitions

1. Referring to geometric figures that encompass a combination of multiple edges and angles
2. Relating to shapes defined by straight lines that create a closed figure with several vertices
3. Characterizing structures that comprise several edges and angles, often resulting in a closed geometric form

Etymology: Polygonal is a plain formation: the Greek-derived noun "polygon" (from "polygōnon," meaning "many-angled," built from "polys," "many," and "gōnia," "angle") plus the English adjectival suffix "-al." Its suffix has a longer history than the word itself. The ending comes from Latin "-ālis," which passed into English through Old French "-el" and Middle English "-al," so the adjective is a combination of Greek vocabulary with a Latin-derived ending. The base word "polygon" is the more interesting piece, because its literal meaning is blunt and descriptive: a shape defined simply by how many corners it has. Geometers used the Greek roots to name the figure directly, and "polygonal" then describes anything with that many-cornered quality, from a crystal's faces to a fortress wall built in a many-sided plan.

Synonyms: angular

Antonyms: circular